Shelf bracket assembly

ABSTRACT

A shelf bracket assembly separable into two parts, the shelfsupporting bracket and the hook plate assembly upon which the shelf bracket is mounted. The hook plate assembly is generally &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;I&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;-shaped and includes a main body portion having at least one transversely projecting lug and is adapted for engagement with an anchor means, the lug including a locking portion for engaging the anchor means. The shelf-supporting bracket is generally &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;T&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;-shaped and is arranged with an integral stem for engagement with the hook plate assembly, being retained thereby against tilting and downwardly directed vertical motion.

United States Patent 2,963,l70 12/1960 Lori Inventor Appl. No. FiledPatented Assignee The Stanley Works New Britain, Conn.

SHELF BRACKET ASSEMBLY 14 Claims, 12 Drawing Fig.

[3.8. CI 248/243, l08/ll0,2ll/l48 Int. CL A47g 29/02 Field of Search248/243, 235,241, 244,245; 108/106, I07, 109,110, 152; 211/148, 148 A,l77;287/l89.35

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 604,978 9/1960Canada Primary Examiner.l. Franklin Foss Attorney-Brumbaugh, Graves,Donohue & Raymond ABSTRACT: A shelf bracket assembly separable into twoparts, the shelf-supporting bracket and the hook plate assembly uponwhich the shelf bracket is mounted. The hook plate assembly is generallyl"-shaped and includes a main body portion having at least onetransversely projecting lug and is adapted for engagement with an anchormeans, the lug including a locking portion for engaging the anchormeans. The shelf-supporting bracket is generally T"-shaped and isarranged with an integral stem for engagement with the hook plateassembly, being retained thereby against tilting and downwardly directedvertical motion.

PATENTED AUBI'HSTl 3,599,919

L m g 0| Q N R N N r I N 3 n ll IWJII 2 9 9 INVENTOR. L Lows; BOBRO WSKlQ Q his ATTORNEYS PATENTED AUG] 7 I97! SHEET 3 OF 4 INV/LN'IUR.

LOUIS G. BOBROWSKI BY pmw 4 f his ATTORNEYS SHELF BRACKET ASSEMBLYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to shelf-supportingbrackets, and more particularly, to a shelf-supporting bracket adaptedto be secured to support posts which generally extend from floor toceiling.

As a matter of simple convenience and in keeping with the constantlychanging trends in modern design, an increasing need arises forfurnishings which are capable of being easily assembled and dismantledfor adaptation to variations in room decoration, such as with bookcases,room dividers and open compartment hutches. Heretofore, when shelveshave been positioned between upright support posts, it was necessary tofirst insert hooklike members into vertical uprights, then lower theshelves onto these members and secure onto the other with screws. Tokeep these screws concealed from above it was necessary to engage anddrive them from below, an awkward operation. To rearrange shelves it wasnecessary to remove these screws and disassociate the shelves from theirhook members before the latter could be repositioned, following whichthe screws would again have to be inserted. Other types of shelfassemblies which do not require the use of tools for assembling havegenerally proved unsatisfactory in that the assembled unit has generallybeen unstable and means have not been provided to prevent the shelf fromaccidentally being shifted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a shelf assembly which overcomes theabove-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

It is another object of this invention to provide a durable, sturdy andinexpensive shelf bracket which is capable of accommodating considerablevariation in shelf size, bracket positioning and support post spacingand which may be assembled or dismantled with relative ease.

The present invention contemplates the use of aa shelf bracket assemblyseparable into two parts. One part, the bracket, is T"-shaped and ispreattached to the underside of the shelf by the use of screws or thelike. The otherpart, the hook plate assembly upon which the shelfbracket is mounted, is adapted to be selectively positioned in the slotsof upright standards. Further, this hook plate assembly is channeled toreceive and laterally restrain the T"-shaped bracket depending from theshelf. This full lateral restraint permits the positioning of shelves inbetween pairs of uprights.

The two-part construction allows the shelf to be lifted'bodily upwardwhen it is desired to rearrange the ensemble. It is not necessary towithdraw any screws. When the new positions of the hook plate assemblieshave been determined, theshelf, with "T" brackets still attached, isrepositioned. It can thus be seen that a great variety of shelflocations can be achieved" without it ever again being necessary todisturb the screw fastenings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. I is drawings: perspective view of-a typical-shelf supportingbracket assembly arranged according to the'present' invention; a

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 shelf supporting bracketassembly taken along line 4-4 01 FIG. I andlooking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of analtemate form of thebracket of the FIG.-1 shelf supporting bracket assembly;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a typical shelfbracket arranged according to the present inventron;

FIG. 7 is aperspective view of another embodiment of a hook plateassembly arranged according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shelf bracket for use with the FIG. 7hook plate assembly;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a shelf bracketaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hook plate assembly for use-with theFIG. 9 shelf bracket;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of a hook plate assemblyaccording to the present invention showing the use of a spring meanswith the hook plate; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a hook plateassembly illustrating the use of another spring means with the hookplate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the illustrative embodimentof a shelf bracket arranged according-to the present invention, as shownin FIG. 1-4, there is provided an upright support post 10 of the typewhich is adapted to extend from floor to ceiling. Secured into alongitudinal slot formed in one side of the support post 10 is an anchormeans, here shown as a standard 12 which may be of conventionalconstruction and, accordingly, comprises a plurality of verticallyspaced slots 12a, 12b, 12c-12n.

A shelf supporting assembly 14 arranged according to the presentinvention is adapted to be mounted on the standard 12 with thecenterline of the shelf bracket assembly 14 coinciding with thecenterline of the support post 10. The shelf bracket assembly 14comprises a generally 'I-shaped bracket member 16 which includes a stem18 having a rectangularly shaped slot 20 formed therein for telescopicengagement with a bracket mounting means. The upper portion of thebracket member 16 comprises a web 22 with extending flanges 22a and 22b.The ends of the flanges 22a and 22b have apertures formed therein forreceiving corresponding screws 24a and 24b which bolt the bracket member16 to the underside of a shelf 25.

As best shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the shelf bracket assembly 14-furtherincludes a bracket mounting means or hook plate assembly 26 forattaching the entire shelf bracket assembly 14 to the standard 12. Thehook plate assembly 26 comprises a hook plate 27 with lug members 28a,28b and 280, each lug member having a locking portion 29a--29c, forengaging the segments 1 la, 11b and 11c of the standard 12, and agenerally l-sh'aped support member 30 with side channels 30a and 30b andhaving a longitudinally extending, generally T- shape opening 31 formedtherein for receiving the hook plate 27. The hook plate 27 and thesupport 30 are locked together at their lower extremity by a stake 32protruding from the support member 30 and integral with it and extendinginto the hole 33in the hook plate27. With the hookplate 27 and thesupport member 30 staked together, interference gaps 34a and 34bwhose'dimension'is less than the material thickness of the segments 11aand 11b of the standard 12 are provided between the locking portions 294and 29b of the lug members 28b and 28b, and the support member 30.

As best seen in FIG. 4, to assemble the'shelf supportingbracket'assembly of the present invention, the hook plate 27 is'-inserted through the T"-shaped opening 31 formed in the 33, thuslocking the two members together. The extrusion operation is carried outin such a manner thatstake 32 acts to produce a fulcrum about which thehook plate 27 can be bent relative to the support member 30 in the areaof opening 31. As shown in FIG. 3, with the hook plate assembly 26 fullyassembled, the upper end surface of the hook plate 27 extends slightlyabove the upper end surface of the support member 30. The hook plateassembly 26 is mounted onto the standard 12 at a predetennined verticalheight by inserting the lug members 28a28c through three of the slots12a-l2c formed in the standard 12 and exerting a downward force on thehook plate assembly 26 causing the locking portions 29a- 29c of the lugmembers 28a-28c to engage the standard and further causing the hookplate 27 to bend slightly about stake 32. This bending is resisted atpoint 38 resulting in a secure in-, terlock between the standard 12 andthe hook plate assembly 26 when fully seated, and thus accidentalshifting, or otherwise dislodging, is resisted.

Thereupon, the shelf 25 is mounted on the shelf supporting bracket 22 bybolting the underside thereof to the flanges 22a and 22b. As shown inFIG. 2, the rectangularly shaped slot formed in the stem 18 of thebracket 16 is aligned with the channels 30a and 30b of the supportmember 30. The shelf bracket 16 is then lowered onto the support member30 with the sidewalls of the stem 18 defining the slot 20 in engagementwith the channels 300 and 30b of the support member 30. The shelfbracket 16 is lowered until the web 22 of the bracket 16 rests on top ofthe hook plate 27. In this position, the shelf 25 cannot be accidentallyshifted in a horizontal direction, tilted or lowered. When it becomesdesirable to reposition the shelving it is only necessary to raise theshelf upward until the slots in the bracket stems are no longer confinedwithin the side channels a and 30b. Thereupon, the hook plate assemblymay be moved to a new position, after which the shelf with its Tbrackets is lowered into engagement with the hook plate assembly.

In an alternate embodiment of a shelf-supporting bracket for the shelfbracket 14, as shown in FIG. 5, the ends of sidewalls of the stem 18defining the slot 20 may be curled to form lip members and &2. The lipmembers 40 and 42 snap over the end of the support member 38 to resistupward movement by the shelf-supporting bracket.

In another embodiment of a shelf supporting bracket, as shown in FIG. 6,there is provided a shelf-supporting bracket 50 which includes a slottedstern 52 integral with an obliquely extending web 54 terminated at itsopposite ends by a pair of flanges 54a and 54b. The hook plate andsupport therefor adapted to support the shelf-supporting bracket 50 areof the type described with reference to FIG. 1-5 and, accordingly, neednot be described herein. The configuration of the bracket 50 makes itpossible to provide for example, a shelf at an angle of variable heightupon which to display magazines, and the like, although the shelfbracket of FIG. 6 may also be put to other uses.

Further typical embodiments of a shelf-supporting bracket assemblyaccording to the present invention are shown in FIG. 7-l2. Inparticular, FIG. 7 shows a one-piece hook plate assembly 60 comprising aplurality of lug members 63a63c, similar to those hereinbefore describedand shown in FIG. 3 and 4, integral with a main body portion 62 whichincludes a rectangularly shaped slot 61 formed therein. The slot 61 inthe hook plate assembly 69 is formed to receive the correspondinglyshaped, solid stem 64 of a generally T-shaped shelf bracket 65, shown inFIG. 8.

In FIG. 9 a shelf bracket 70 arranged according to the present inventionis adapted to receive a plug-in type hook plate assembly 76, as seen inFIG. 10. The shelf bracket 70 is similar to the shelf bracket 16described in FIG. 1 and 2, accordingly, is generally T"-shaped andincludes a stem 71 having a rectangularly shaped opening 72 formedtherein into which is inserted the hook plate assembly 76. However, thestem 71 includes a base member 73 which is integral with the flangesthereof and which prevents any vertical movement of the shelf bracket 70when the hook plate assembly 76 is in position. The hook plate assembly76 is similar in design and construction to hook to hook plate assembly26 shown in FIG. 3 and includes a hook plate 79 with lug members800-801: and a support member 77. The support member 77 of the hookplate assembly 76 is adapted for insertion into the opening 72 of theshelf bracket 70. To this end, the lateral extent of the inside flanges78a and 78b of the support member is slightly less than the width ofopening 72 in the bracket 70 and the width of the outside flange 83 ofthe support member 77 is slightly greater than the width of the opening72. Thus, the hook plate assembly 76 is allowed to pass through theopening 72 in the stem 71 until the ridges 82a and 82b of the flange 83abut the downwardly depending flanges 74a and 74b, respectively, of thebracket stem 71. This arrangement is especially useful when verticalmovement of the shelf bracket is impractical for assembling ordismantling the shelf unit, such as for a shelf which is to abut or bepositioned near the ceiling of a room.-

As shown in FIG. 11, to insure a tight engagement of the hook plateassembly to the standard, portions of elastomeric material 94 and 95 maybe attached to the hook plate at the spaces 92 and 93 between the lugmembers 91a, 91b, and 91b, 91c. The elastomeric portions 94 and 95define interference gaps with the locking portions of the lugs. When thelugs are inserted into the slots of the standard, the elastomericportions 94 and 95 are squeezed against the face of the standard andthereby resist relative motion between the hook plate assembly and theanchor means.

Other alternate spring means may be devised to accomplish the samepurpose. In FIG. 12, leaf springs a and 1101) (110a being illustrative)are attached to the hook plate under the lip 111 of the flange 112.These springs act to resist the horizontal movement of the hook plateand to aid the locking action of the hook plate to the anchor means.

Although the invention has been described herein with references tospecific embodiments, many modifications and variations therein willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, all suchvariations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shelf bracket assembly comprising bracket mounting means includinga hook plate having a plurality of transversely projecting lugs adaptedfor engagement with an anchor means, said lugs including lockingportions for engaging the anchor means, a support member having formedcentrally therein a longitudinal opening for receiving the hook platewith the lugs of the hook plate extending transversely of the supportmember to define interference gaps therebetween, means for securingtogether the lower extremities of the hook plate and the support memberto define a fulcrum about which relative bending between the hook plateand support can occur within the longitudinal opening in the supportmember when the locking portions of the lugs engage the anchor means,and a shelf-supporting bracket formed with a stem and arranged to engagethe support member telescopically and to be supported thereby, theshelf-supporting bracket being retained by the support member againsttilting and downwardly directed motion.

2. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the shelfsupporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper web withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slot for receivingthe support member of the bracket-mounting means, said flanges extendingperpendicularly of the stem of the bracket.

3. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the shelfsupporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper web withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slot for receivingthe support member of the bracket mounting means, said flanges extendingobliquely of the stem of the bracket.

4. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lugs of thehook plate are adapted for insertion through corresponding slots formedin the anchor means with segments of the anchor means separating theslots therein adapted to be received by the interference gaps betweenthe lugs and the support member.

5. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the stem of theshelf-supporting bracket includes a longitudinal slot defined bysidewalls, the ends of the sidewalls being curled to define lip membersfor engagement with the lower end of the support member of thebracket-mounting means.

6. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein spring meansare provided to resist enlargement of said interference gaps by theanchor means 7. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 6 whereinthe spring means comprises elastomeric members mounted on the hook plateand extending into the interference gaps.

8. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 6 wherein the springmeans comprises at least one resilient member engaging the hook plateand the support inember.

9. A shelf bracket assembly comprising bracket mounting means includinga main body portion having formed centrally 1 therein a longitudinalslot that receives a hook plate having a plurality of transverselyprojecting lugs adapted for engagement with an anchor means, and ashelf-supporting bracket formed with a stem to engage and be supportedby the main body portion and retained thereby against tilting anddownwardly directed motion, said lugs including locking portions forengaging the anchor means and defining interference gaps between thelugs and the main body portion.

10. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 9 wherein the shelfsupporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper web withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slot for receivingthe main body portion, said flanges extending perpendicularly of thestem of the bracket.

11. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 9 wherein theshelf-supporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upperweb with flanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf memberand an integral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slot forreceiving the main body portion, said flanges extending obliquely of thestem of the bracket.

12. A shelf bracket assembly comprising bracket mounting means includinga generally l-shaped support member having a smaller cross section and alarger flanged cross section, a longitudinal opening in the l-shapedsupport member for receiving a hook plate having a plurality of lugsincluding locking portions adapted for engaging an anchor means, thelugs extending transversely of the support member to define interferencegaps therebetween, and a shelf-supporting bracket formed with a stem toengage and be supported by the support member and retained therebyagainst tilting and downwardly directed motion, the shelf-supportingbracket having an opening therein for engagement with said bracketmounting means, the smaller cross section of the I-shaped support memberadapted to be fitted through said opening in the bracket and the largerflanged cross section adapted to retain the shelf-supporting bracket inposition, and means for securing together the lower extremities of thehook plate and support member to define a fulcrum about which relativebending between the hook plate and support member can occur within thelongitudinal opening in the support member when the locking portions ofthe lugs engage the anchor means.

13. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 12 wherein the shelfsupporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper web withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stern having formed therein the opening for receiving thebracket-mounting means, said flanges extending perpendicularly of thestem of the bracket.

14. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 12 wherein the shelfsupportin bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper we withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stern having formed therein the opening for receiving thebracket-mounting means, said flanges extending obliquely of the stem ofthe bracket.

P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3,599,919 Dated August 17, 1971 Inventor(s) I'mn' s G h k-j It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 41, "a a shelf" should be a shelf Col. I, line 35, "Fig. lis drawings: perspective" should be Fig. 1 is a perspective Col. 2, line'53; "shape" should be shaped Col. 2, line 62, "28a and 28b, and the"should be 28a and 28b respectively Col. 4, line 1, "construction to hookto hook" should be construction to hook Signed and sealed this 21st dayof March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A shelf bracket assembly comprising bracket mounting means includinga hook plate having a plurality of transversely projecting lugs adaptedfor engagement with an anchor means, said lugs including lockingportions for engaging the anchor means, a support member having formedcentrally therein a longitudinal opening for receiving the hook platewith the lugs of the hook plate extending transversely of the supportmember to define interference gaps therebetween, means for securingtogether the lower extremities of the hook plate and the support memberto define a fulcrum about which relative bending between the hook plateand support can occur within the longitudinal opening in the supportmember when the locking portions of the lugs engage the anchor means,and a shelf-supporting bracket formed with a stem and arranged to engagethe support member telescopically and to be supported thereby, theshelf-supporting bracket being retained by the support member againsttilting and downwardly directed motion.
 2. A shelf bracket assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein the shelf supporting bracket is generallyT-shaped and comprises an upper web with flanges defining a flat surfacefor receiving a shelf member and an integral stem having formed thereina longitudinal slot for receiving the support member of thebracket-mounting means, said flanges extending perpendicularly of thestem of the bracket.
 3. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1wherein the shelf supporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprisesan upper web with flanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelfmember and an integral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slotfor receiving the support member of the bracket mounting means, saidflanges extending obliquely of the stem of the bracket.
 4. A shelfbracket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lugs of the hook plateare adapted for insertion through corresponding slots formed in theanchor means with segments of the anchor means separating the slotstherein adapted to be received by the interference gaps between the lugsand the support member.
 5. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 1wherein the stem of the shelf-supporting bracket includes a longitudinalslot defined by sidewalls, the ends of the sidewalls being curled todefine lip members for engagement with the lower end of the supportmember of the bracket-mounting means.
 6. A shelf bracket assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein spring means are provided to resistenlargement of said interference gaps by the anchor means
 7. A shelfbracket assembly according to claim 6 wherein the spring means compriseselastomeric members mounted on the hook plate and extending into theinterference gaps.
 8. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 6wherein the spring means comprises at least one resilient memberengaging the hook plate and the support member.
 9. A shelf bracketassembly comprising bracket mounting means including a main body portionhaving formed centrally therein a longitudinal slot that receives a hookplate having a plurality of transversely projecting lugs adapted forengagement with an anchor means, and a shelf-supporting bracket formedwith a stem to engage and be supported by the main body portion andretained thereby against tilting and downwardly directed motion, saidlugs including locking portions for engaging the anchor means anddefining interference gaps between the lugs and the main body portion.10. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 9 wherein the shelfsupporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper web withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slot for receivingthe main body portion, said flanges extending perpendicularly of thestem of the bracket.
 11. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 9wherein the shelf-supporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprisesan upper web with flanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelfmember and an integral stem having formed therein a longitudinal slotfor receiving the main body portion, said flanges extending obliquely ofthe stem of the bracket.
 12. A shelf bracket assembly comprising bracketmounting means including a generally I-shaped support member having asmaller cross section and a larger flanged cross section, a longitudinalopening in the I-shaped support member for receiving a hook plate havinga plurality of lugs including locking portions adapted for engaging ananchor means, the lugs extending transversely of the support member todefine interference gaps therebetween, and a shelf-supporting bracketformed with a stem to engage and be supported by the support member andretained thereby against tilting and downwardly directed motion, theshelf-supporting bracket having an opening therein for engagement withsaid bracket mounting means, the smaller cross section of the I-shapedsupport member adapted to be fitted through said opening in the bracketand the larger flanged cross section adapted to retain theshelf-supporting bracket in position, and means for securing togetherthe lower extremities of the hook plate and support member to define afulcrum about which relative bending between the hook plate and supportmember can occur within the longitudinal opening in the support memberwhen the locking portions of the lugs engage the anchor means.
 13. Ashelf bracket assembly according to claim 12 wherein the shelfsupporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprises an upper web withflanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelf member and anintegral stem having formed therein the opening for receiving thebracket-mounting means, said flanges extending perpendicularly of thestem of the bracket.
 14. A shelf bracket assembly according to claim 12wherein the shelf supporting bracket is generally T-shaped and comprisesan upper web with flanges defining a flat surface for receiving a shelfmember and an integral stem having formed therein the opening forreceiving the bracket-mounting means, said flanges extending obliquelyof the stem of the bracket.